Katun

(also, the Katun’ Belki), a range of the Central Altai Mountains in the Gorno-Altai AO. The range forms the divide of the Katun’, Argut, and BereP rivers. Length, approximately 150 km; maximum elevation, 4, 506 m (Mount Belukha). It is composed of schists and granites. In the central regions, alpine peaks predominate; 386 glaciers descend their slopes. The total area of glaciation is 279 sq km. On the slopes with elevations up to 2, 000–2, 200 m, there are larch and cedar forests. At higher elevations, there are alpine meadows, bare rocks, and taluses.

a river in the Altai Mountains, Altai Krai, RSFSR. It joins the Biia River, 19 km southwest of the town of Biisk, forming the Ob’ River. Length, 688 km; basin area, 60,900 sq km. The river’s source is the Katun’ Glacier on the southern slope of Mount Belukha. In its middle course it flows through a broad valley and divides into branches. In its lower course it flows in a comparatively narrow valley, with width up to 4 km. Approximately 70 km from the mouth, the river flows through a plain. It is fed by glaciers and snow. The mean annual flow rate at the population center of Srostki (53 km from the mouth) is 626 cu m per sec. The upper Katun’ freezes in December; the lower, in late November. The ice breaks up in the first half of April. Tributaries are the Argut and Chuia rivers on the right, and the Koksa and Sema rivers on the left. Timber is floated on the river. The Chuia highway stretches for a significant distance through the Katun’ valley.

a glacier descending the southern slopes of MountBelukha in the Katun’ Range in the Altai. Length, approxi-mately 8.5 km; area, approximately 8.5 sq km. The terminus of the glacier lies at an elevation of about 1, 970 m (over the last 50years, the glacier has retreated 700 m). The Katun’ River takesits source from the glacier.